Weatherproof outlet box



April 7, 1959 G, L EIF 2,881,240

WEATHERPROOF OUTLET BOX Filed April 26, 1955 2* 20 avg 1 17 I I i INVENTOR. Gerald L. 5 6 112 ATTDRN EYS United States Patent O" 2,881,240 WEATHERPROOF: OUTLET BOX Gerald L. Self, Cardington, Ohio Application April 26, 1955, Serial No. 504,079

3 Claims. (Cl. 174-58) This invention relates to electrical outlets and particularly wall sockets or boxes adapted to be used outside when: plug or screw sockets and switches are subjected to the elements, and in particular, an outlet box having a continuous shield or cover whereby the elements are protected from the weather and wherein an electric cord plug or light may be inserted or threaded and also removed without opening doors or the like and without subjecting the parts to rain, snow, or other moisture.

The purpose of this invention is to provide an outlet box for electrical connections that is positioned in a substantially semi-circular shield in which the shield protects elements of the box from the weather.

Various types of outside outlet boxes have been provided in electrical installations, however, even though such devices are closed with doors and the like, it is diificult to prevent moisture coming in contact with connections or conductors and causing short circuits and where thin metal boxes are provided with doors the hinges and latching elements corrode and rust when subjected to the weather thereby making it difiicult, if not impossible, to open the door thereof. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates an outlet box and switch in which conventional sockets and switches, enclosed in substantially leakproof cases, are mounted on a wall of an outlet box and in which the box and particularly the wall in which the sockets and switches are positioned is completely covered with an arcuate plate having an extended shield whereby it is substantially impossible for rain and other moisture to work into the casings of the elements and in which the busbars and switch making and breaking elements are positioned.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a combination outlet box and switch in which the device is protected from the elements so that it may be used on the outside of buildings and the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide a combination outlet box and switch for outside use in which a plug or light bulb may be inserted in or removed from the device without opening doors and the like.

A further object of the invention is to provide a combination outlet box and switch for outside use in which the parts are protected from the elements with a continuous shield and in which the parts are of simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a box structure having a base with upwardly extended inner and outer plates, the extended edges of which are substantially semi-circular and the outer plate being adapted to provide a mounting for a socket and switch, and an arcuate cover plate having an extended shield positioned over the device and secured over edges of said inner and outer plates.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description, taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a plan view showing a pattern of a protect- 2,881,240 Patented t Apr. 7, 1959 ing cover and shield for the combination outlet box and switch.

Figure 2 is a view showing a pattern from which the box structure is formed.

Figure 3 is an end elevational view looking toward the extended end of the combination outlet box and switch.

Figure 4 is a longitudinal section through the device taken on line 44 of Figure 3 showing the combination outlet box and switch mounted on a wall.

Figure 5 is a view looking upwardly toward the under surface of the outlet box and switch. I

Referring now to the drawing, wherein like reference characters denote corresponding parts, the improved out side outlet and switch box of this invention includes a U-shaped structure having a base.10, an inner wall 11, an outer wall 12 having an opening 13 in which a 'socket 14 is positioned and an opening lsinwhich a switch 15 is positioned, and a cover and shield including a portion 17 that is positioned to cover the box and a shield 18 that extends outwardly beyond the outer wall 12 of the box. The portion 17 of the cover is provided with a continuous ridge 19 providing indentations 20 and 21 for the edges of the walls 11 and 12, respectively, and also indentations for ends of the base 10 and, as shown particularly in Figures 1 and 4, the section 17 of the cover is provided with extended flaps 22 and 23 that are provided with openings 24 and 25, respectively, for a bolt 26 which, as illustrated in Figure 3, extends through the flaps with a head 27 at one end and a nut 28 on the opposite end holding the flaps with the edges of the walls 11 and 12 in the indentations in the inner surface of the cover and shield.

The inner wall 11 is provided with extended flaps 29 and 30 from which flanges 31 and 32, respectively, extend and the flanges are provided with openings 33 and 34 through which mounting screws, as indicated by the numeral 35, extend, as shown in Figure 4.

The base 10 is provided with openings 36 and 37 for wires extended from the socket 14, openings 38 and 39 for wires extended from the switch 16, and an opening 40 which provides a drain for condensation or other moisture that may possibly work into the outlet box.

Although the socket 14 is illustrated as being particularly adapted for receiving prongs of a conventional plug of an electric light cord, it will be understood that the socket may be formed to receive an electric light bulb or the like.

Also, in the design shown, the socket 14 and switch 16 are provided in a mounting element 41 which is secured to the wall 12 with a screw 42, the socket or sockets and switch may be mounted in the outer wall by other suitable means.

The contact wires of the elements are also illustrated as extending through a conduit 43 which is secured in position by clamps 44 and the wires, which are indicated by the numeral 45, may be installed and connected to the parts by other suitable means.

The switch 16 is provided with a button 46 by which the switch may be actuated and it will be understood that a switch of any suitable type may be used.

It will be understood that other modifications, within the scope of the appended claims, may be made in the design and arrangement of the parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. An outside outlet box comprising a base, an inner wall integral with and extended upwardly from one end of the base, an outer wall integral with and extended upwardly from the other end of the base, the upper edges of said walls being substantially semi-circular, a socket and a switch mounted on said outer wall, and a cover substantially semi-circular in cross section positioned over and secured to edgesoi the inner and outer walls and having a portion extended from said outer wall providing a shield.

2. In an outlet box for outside use, the combination which comprises a box, substantially U-shaped in cross section having a base with spaced integral walls extended upwardly from ends thereof, a cover substantially semicircular in cross section rigid with said walls and extended over the base and walls and having a section extended from the base providing a shield, a socket and switch mounted on one of said walls, wires from the socket and switch extending through the base, said cover having extended integral flaps, and a bolt extended through the flaps of the cover for clamping the cover and shield in position upon the walls ofthebase.

3. In an outlet box for outside use, the combination which comprises a box, substantially U-shaped in cross section having a-base' with spaced integral walls extended upwardly from ends thereof, a cover substantially semicircular in cross section'rigid with said walls and extended over the base and walls and having a section extended from the base providing a shield, a socket'and switch mounted on one of said walls, wires from the socket and switch extending through-the base, said cover having extended integral flaps, a bolt extended through the flaps of the cover for clamping the cover and shield in position upon the walls of the base, flaps extending from the other of said walls, and flanges having screw receiving openings therein extended from said last said flaps at right angles thereto in opposed relation to each other for mounting the outlet box upon a wall or the like.

References Cited in the'file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,329,104 BaIlin- Jan. 27, 1920 2,046,810 Cannon July 7, 1936 2,420,184 Mekelburg May 6, 1947 2,656,948 McGee Oct. 27, 1953 OTHER REFERENCES 7 Popular Mechanics, March 1948, page 201. (InDiv. 5..) 

